1. What do you see as the biggest issue facing the city/school and how do you expect to impact this as a member of the school board?

The biggest issue facing the school board is educating all children at high levels of achievement in academics, arts and athletics. The District’s Strategic Plan utilizes four supporting objectives:
1.) continuously increase student achievement,
2.) continuously improve the learning environment for students and staff,
3.) continuously increase operational effectiveness
4.) continuously increase stakeholder confidence and support of our school system. Our district has a population of over 25,000 students that is very diverse (representing over 100 cultural backgrounds). This diversity is the reason our district is evaluated by the Texas Education Agency by the maximum number of accountability indicators (5 tests for 5 student groups totaling: 25). Our district exceeds state commended performance (students with a passing percentage of 90 percent or above) in math, reading, science and social studies. Our district was rated Recognized by the Texas Education Agency in 2009-2010. Over 90 percent of our schools are recognized or exemplary.

The future economy of our state depends on educating our students and preparing them to be college ready and/or workforce ready without remediation. Quality teachers and staff support are vital to ensuring the success of our educational strategies to improve student achievement. The current layoffs in neighboring school districts seems like it must distract the focus of staff on the students but our district is seeking to provide more stability through prior years of reductions and operational efficiencies that have positioned our district to be better prepared for the possible reductions. CFB has reduced staffing levels for several years through attrition and we are intending to continue this practice. I hope to retain quality committed teachers by communicating clearly with them and providing them with the professional development environment that sets them up for success, thereby supporting student successes. We recognize the successes and achievements of many of our students and teachers at Board meetings throughout the year and this reminds the Board of the real reason we serve.

2. In these economic times what do you see are the most important issues in the school budget?

The challenge of projecting a school budget without knowing the results of the legislative session is the most important budget issue. In 2006, the State froze the amount of money the district receives per student at $5280. Since 2006, that number has increased only once. In 2009, the state provided money for teachers raises (teacher, counselors, nurses, and librarians only) bringing the current district funding to $5690 per student. The district has worked with the amount of money it received since then and has made reductions in the number of personnel and other fees and utilities since that time. The state legislature is currently meeting in Austin and the unknowns to finishing out this budget year and the next two are many. The state is experiencing a tax shortfall of $20 to $30 billion which would result in cuts to state public education K-12. The current estimated impact on C-FB is somewhere between 20-24 million in funding reductions. Some state elected officials have expressed the opinion that they would rather provide less funding to public schools than raise taxes. The local districts have a mechanism provided to us in the 2006 school funding changes that allows a district to establish a budget for a higher tax rate and then request a tax rollback election for voter approval after the fact. The district’s operation and maintenance tax rate is $1.04 and voters must approve any increase in the rate.

To make significant reductions in the budget, the district will need to make deep cuts in programs and personnel. The school district was recently ranked 11th in overall Educational Productivity by the Education Resource Group of Texas. This was out of the 200 largest school districts in the state when examining student achievement scores (considering background of the students) combined with financial spending. This was the second year in a row the District was ranked number 11. Our district is proud of these results but is striving to attain even greater academic achievement in the future while maintaining financial responsibility.

The challenge of projecting a school budget without knowing the results of the legislative session is the most important budget issue. This legislative session has more significant budget shortfalls than previous sessions and the challenges and unknowns to school districts are enormous.

3. How will you help set the agenda for the school board?

As a board member, I served as the Chair of the Board Operating Procedures committee last year. This was our first year to formally adopt operating guidelines and it was a valuable exercise. The entire board and superintendent have had “Team of 8” training and participated in a Board Effectiveness Audit to help us establish good working practices. As a board member, I work with the other board members to determine specific targets for the Superintendent’s work plan and goals for increasing student achievement each year.

4. People need to know what school leaders think about public issues. How do you plan to be a visible, accessible leader communicating with all segments of the population?

I am active in many different organizations in the community and attend a wide variety of events ranging from Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce, Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, Metrocrest Social Services events, PTA Meetings, CFBISD Educational Foundation, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Kacie’s Fun Run and other activities that I am able to attend. I attend school district sporting events, and am currently active in Girl Scouts, my church, and am Band Booster Treasurer. I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many of the mayors, council members, former council members and city managers from each of the six cities that our district serves. The Board of Trustees is invited twice a year to meet with the District Improvement Council, and we are also very approachable there. I return phone calls to my home and e-mails that are directed to me in order to communicate with our residents. I have an e-mail through the school district site (clinen@cfbisd.edu) and also a personal one (Nancy@VoteNancy.com) and a facebook (Vote Nancy Cline for CFB ISD). I also have an online form on my website.

I am grateful and blessed to serve as a trustee of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school board and try to be responsive and transparent when all segments of the population contact me.